Speeches

The priority of the European Union and the Belgian Presidency for the next six months must remain to protect European citizens from the crises we are facing: inflation, the high price of medicines, the diversification of social inequalities, the security of external borders and the consequences of the war in Ukraine. The Kingdom of Belgium needs to show, more than ever, its strong negotiating nature in order to convince the Member States that Europe can only be strong if it is united and united. That is why I call on the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union to protect European solidarity and to continue the joint efforts, taking steps to make Romania's full accession to the Schengen area a reality as soon as possible. In this respect, I propose to the Belgian Presidency to come up with a clear timeline regarding the lifting of land customs controls for Romania and to ensure that this will be supported by all Member States.

The analysis in the Commission’s Action Plan on Intellectual Property highlights the importance of intangible assets such as trademarks, designs, patents and data in today’s knowledge-based economy, especially with regard to job creation, economic growth and the higher remuneration of employees. Creators’ and inventors’ remuneration should be protected from ‘buy-out’ contracts by big platforms, while not blocking innovation. This is why the European Parliament calls for the strengthening of intellectual property rights in a way that contributes to the social and sustainable development of the EU. Better employment, better salaries, more stability and resilience, especially for SMEs seizing on the potential of their intellectual property, represents an important link between intellectual property rights and social policy. We need to create an EU toolbox against piracy and counterfeiting in order to ensure coordinated action between intellectual property rights’ owners, intermediaries and public authorities. The Action Plan on Intellectual Property also needs to ensure proper and equitable access to medicines and medical treatments, including during health crises by resorting to voluntary or mandatory licensing in use of the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement.

The next item is the debate on the report by Anna Strolenberg, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union in 2024 and 2025 (2025/2135(INI)) (A10‑0042/2026).

Thank you, Vice-President, for your concluding remarks on this debate on the oral question on the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act. I would also like to congratulate the authors. We have also received a motion for a resolution on the basis of the oral question. The debate is closed. The vote will take place on Thursday.

Mr President, dear rapporteurs and colleagues, Commissioner, EUR 890 million for justice. This is the amount I have included in this report as responsible for the Legal Committee in the European Parliament for the future budget of the Union. The allocations are €590 million higher than the current budget and the aim is to create new tools for European cooperation, protect the independence of the judiciary, digitalise processes, simplify European legislation, ensure that everyone has access to fair justice, including people with disabilities or those living in diaspora. As Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for the fight against corruption, I have called for these funds to be used to fight cross-border crime, drug trafficking and corruption. I have also called for online gambling platforms to be regulated and taxed fairly, and I thank the rapporteurs for their support. With these funds and the recommendations made, European money will no longer be able to be stolen, and justice in the Member States will have the tools to act.

The next item is the debate on a Commission statement on 'the situation of the rule of law in Greece, following the Court decision on Predator spyware' (2026/2648(RSP)).

I would like to thank everyone for respecting the Rules and, of course, understanding also the responsibility that each of us has beyond this House.

Mr Tynkkynen, I would remind you that you are part of this House as well. I will refer to the President based on Rule 10, due to the words used in your intervention.

This is valid for all speakers in any session. There are specific rules on how we can address colleagues, and I take note of how colleagues have been addressed. So we also forward this to the President.

So first of all there is a blue‑card procedure. And when I kindly ask you to interrupt because there is no interpretation, you have to wait for the interpretation, sir. It was not a blue card. So if you want to reply, or you don't want to reply.

The next item is the debate on a Commission statement on 'the rise of political violence, notably by far‑left organisations' (2026/2638(RSP)). Before starting the debate, I want to inform all colleagues again of the fact that we will need to comply with the time available, so I will be very strict on the timing. Please do respect the timing that has been allocated to each speaker. If we are going to have blue cards also, we will be respecting the procedures accordingly. Also, please colleagues, respect the Rules of Procedure when it comes to the blue‑card procedure.

Madam Vice-President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, education is the main tool by which we fight poverty, but also by which we can increase our competitiveness. Education is not supported by good words, but by adequate budgets and policies. That is why we tabled an amendment co-signed by the Members of the Education Intergroup, calling for 20% of the future multiannual budget of the European Union to go towards education and skills training. I ask the European Commission to support this approach and to show that it treats education as a strategic priority, not as a fiscal adjustment variable. Now we only have 14% for education and mobility, so such an adjustment is possible. We have also offered the solution of identifying new resources through a European education tax applied to companies in the online betting industry. At the same time, we have to say things by name: in Romania we are witnessing cuts that affect the quality of education. These decisions strike precisely at the children and young people most in need, at the teachers and local communities who get involved. We cannot demand more for education at European level and ignore when it is threatened in the Member States. Education must be protected everywhere, because when you attack education, you attack the future of a society.

Colleague, please respect the rules of this House when it comes to referring to people that are present or not present, and also respect the topic. This issue will be referred again to the services.